The design team tasked with restoring Lincoln Cathedral have outlined their exciting vision for the famous monument.

Earlier this year, a team of architects and designers successfully bid for £12.4 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund to start work on the Lincoln Cathedral Connected project.

In May, the north Cloister wall and the Romanesque Frieze underwent repair work and attention has now turned to creating a new visitor centre and erecting a deanery where members of the community can convene, which is expected to be finished by 2020.

Anne Irving, programme manager of the Connected project estimates the work could bring an additional 133,000 visitors to Lincoln, and bring an extra £50 million to the local economy.

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Explaining what will be done, she said: "A brand new visitor centre will be created in the Old Deanery on Eastgate. This Cathedral property, formerly used by Lincoln Minster School, will be converted and extended to accommodate a new, larger café, shop, exhibition spaces and an education suite.

"Through conversations with partners and consultation it has become clear that locally there is a lack of accessible and affordable community spaces where local groups can commune, leading to a number of groups being disbanded or moving away from the area. As part of the Connected Business Plan, new community rooms will be available to disadvantaged groups at minimal or no cost.

"Disabled-accessible facilities in the Visitor Centre will include a Changing Places toilet for the severely disabled (comprising an adult changing bed, a shower and toilet facility). The Changing Places room will be one of only two in Lincoln, and will be available for use by locals and visitors who don't necessarily intend to visit the Cathedral, as well as those who do.

"Improvements to the West Front Parvis and Dean's Green will be free to access and will provide a safe and welcoming space for all. The Dean's Green will provide an entirely new public landscape for the city. These areas will become hubs of activity with families, friends and children engaging and building a greater connection to the Cathedral."

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Nicholas Rank, who is a director at Buttress Architects, who are overseeing the conservation works as part of the Connected project is excited by how the project is taking shape.

He said: “My job as part of the Connected design team involves developing the policies and specifications for the conservation work to the South Romanesque Frieze, Gallery of Kings and the Statues of Bishops on the West Front of the Cathedral, to name a few.

“I was keen to get involved with the design team to restore and conserve this stunning historical place of worship. This project has taken a lot of time and planning but I’m pleased that works have now begun and I look forward to seeing our plans come to fruition.”

A look inside the Cathedral's exhibition area

The entire Connected project is being overseen by Cragg Management, led by Nick Cragg, who thinks it is vital the cathedral is preserved for future generations.

He said: “Lincoln Cathedral is world-renowned and much-loved building that needs to be protected. To ensure that it continues to stand over Lincoln for another 900 years, it’s important that this iconic building offers a high-quality visitor experience that can bring much-needed funds to pay for that protection.

“We are working alongside a highly skilled and talented design team who share our passion for heritage restoration.”

The exhibition space is a first according to designers

Neil Swanson, director of the company thinks the Dean's Green will be a fantastic addition for the community.

He said: “The Cathedral Close at Lincoln is a special example of a uniquely English landscape, and our project will bring about the most significant change to the Close in over 300 years. We have dedicated a great deal of thought and innovation to design a space that will attract visitors of all ages while being in keeping with the core purpose of the Cathedral; a place of worship.

“The new Dean’s Green will be a beautiful, peaceful and emotive place and myself and the team can’t wait to see our design brought to life and enjoyed by the local community and visitors from across the world.”

The Visitor Centre

Mark Allen, director of Allen Archaeology, said: “It has always been a dream of mine to be able to work on this phenomenal building, and indeed such an exciting project. The Cathedral sits in a very special place, and part of our work has been to assess the importance of the remains before any construction work starts, we then disseminate this information to the design team. I’m very pleased to be involved.”

The Old Deanery Visitor Centre has been designed by Simpson & Brown Architects who are delighted to be involved.

“We were thrilled to be appointed by the Cathedral to design the new visitor centre," said Liz Simpson, an associate for the company.

"Our design involves the careful restoration and internal remodelling of the existing building together with the creation of a contemporary link building connecting the Old Deanery to the Cathedral cloister. As architects, it is a great privilege for us to work with this talented team on such an exciting project.”

Liz Simpson who works for Simpson & Brown Architects are just one of the teams involved in the project

A new exhibition space, which will display some of the Cathedral’s hidden treasures for visitors to explore, is being designed and curated by Mather & Co.

Sammy Bentley, who works for the company said: “Currently Lincoln Cathedral doesn’t have a dedicated space to showcase its varied and somewhat rare artefacts to its visitors.

"The artifacts play a key role in the Cathedral’s history so we wanted to create a space that the Cathedral and its visitors can be proud of and to attract a wider audience. We hope the new exhibition space will encourage people of all faiths, backgrounds and abilities to explore the Cathedral as the heart of Lincoln.

“We aim to explain to visitors that this is not just an historic site but a living community which has been growing and changing for 1000 years and will continue to do so for years to come. The visitors are part of that community and the changes are just the latest chapter of the Cathedrals incredible history. We are excited to be able to reveal the hidden stories and objects and we hope to inspire the next generation to continue to support and value the Cathedral to ensure it stands for the next 1000 years.”

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Light Perceptions, are responsible for the lighting and hope they can continue to use the cathedral's over-arching position to continue to illuminate the story.

Director, Bruce Kirk, said: “Lincoln cathedral is acknowledged as being one of the most visible public buildings in the country. Its position at the highest point of the city, dominating the low-lying surroundings, means it can be seen from far and wide and by up to half a million people in Lincolnshire and adjoining counties.

“The present lighting installation was commissioned in the 1970s to celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, and to design a new lighting scheme for such a significant building is a rare opportunity.”

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Lincolnshire business news

Russell Wallis, director of Globe Consultants, who will are supporting the project, said: “We’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with the cathedral on several occasions over the last 11 years on different projects. We have been involved with the Connected project for the last two years, which is made up of a great team.

"We hope to be able to continue to play a useful role in the next few years as the work progresses, making Lincoln the world class heritage visitor attraction it so richly deserves to be.”